HS-6
Encyclopedia
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Six (HSC-6) Indians is a helicopter squadron of the United States Navy
established in 1956. The squadron was comissioned as Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Six and completed transition to Helicopter Sea Combat on 8 July, 2011. Based at Naval Air Station North Island
, HSC-6 is part of Carrier Air Wing 11 and deploys aboard the .
astronauts Wally Schirra
in 1962 and Gordon Cooper
in 1963. In 1966, during U.S. strikes into Vietnam, the Indians rescued 16 downed aviators, for which the squadron received the Navy Unit Commendation. A SEVENTH Fleet Commendation followed in 1969 for services provided following the collision at sea between and . In 1971, the Indians recovered the crew of Apollo 14
returning from the moon. Later that year, the squadron deployed to the east coast to join Carrier Air Wing SEVEN aboard to conduct an evaluation of the emerging CV concept.
In 1974, the squadron began a nine-year association with and Carrier Air Wing NINE. This successful partnership resulted in Battle “E” Awards in 1974 and 1978 and back-to-back Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophies for ASW excellence in 1977 and 1978. The squadron also won the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award in 1977. In 1975, HS-6 briefly revisited its participation in the space program, recovering the Apollo-Soyuz astronauts. The squadron’s final deployment on board USS Constellation was highlighted by 19 open ocean rescues. HS-6 again won back-to-back Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophies in 1985 and 1986. Additionally, in 1986, the squadron received the Admiral Jimmy Thach Award for carrier-based ASW excellence and the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award. In 1988 the Indians received worldwide recognition for rescuing a seriously injured Japanese fisherman. That year, HS-6 would also receive the Sikorsky Maintenance Award, the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation. HS-6 later joined Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN (CVW-11) and began deploying on board until 1989 when the Indians finished with an Around the World cruise. On that cruise, HS-6 won the first ever DESRON 21 “Order of the Pummeled Dolphin” award for excellence in ASW. In 1992, the squadron transitioned to Sikorsky’s SH-60F and HH-60H Seahawk helicopters. Armed with these new, highly capable aircraft, the Indians remained part of CVW 11 and from 1992 to 2003 conducted several successful deployments aboard , , , and , to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf
.
In 2001, during the opening days of the Global War on Terrorism, HS-6 conducted a joint detachment with HS-11, staging their HH-60H helicopters at a forward base in Pakistan to provide Combat Search and Rescue for the initial Operation Enduring Freedom air strikes into Afghanistan. Following another FIFTH Fleet deployment in 2003, the Indians deployed in the summer of 2004 aboard for its South American inter-fleet transit. WESTPAC 2005 found HS-6 focused on Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying over 2,500 hours and nearly 1,000 sorties from and Camp Arifjan, Kuwait to patrol the skies of Southern Iraq. That year, the Indians were awarded the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award, COMPACFLT Retention Excellence Award, and Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy. The squadron’s exceptional support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom during WESTPAC ’07, and their performance in the SEVENTH Fleet throughout WESTPAC ’08 earned the Indians the 2007 Battle “E”, and back to back CNO Safety ‘S’ Awards in 2007 and 2008. In March 2010, the squadron completed its final cruise with H-60 F/H helicopters, an eight month deployment to FIFTH Fleet in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
HS-6 began the transition to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX in early 2011, and will deploy with eight MH-60S helicopters as an integral part of the CVW 11 / USS Nimitz (CVN-68) team in late 2012.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
established in 1956. The squadron was comissioned as Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Six and completed transition to Helicopter Sea Combat on 8 July, 2011. Based at Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island
Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of several aircraft carriers of the United States Navy...
, HSC-6 is part of Carrier Air Wing 11 and deploys aboard the .
History
Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron SIX was established on June 1, 1956 aboard midway between the islands of Formosa and Okinawa. Initially, the squadron flew the HO4S Chickasaw, but two years later transitioned to the HSS-1N Seabat and gained a new mission, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). In April 1960, the squadron joined Carrier Anti-Submarine Group FIVE THREE aboard . In March of 1962 the squadron again changed aircraft when Sikorsky’s SH-3 Sea King entered the fleet. The Sea King, incorporating upgrades over the years, would take HS-6 into the 1990s. Along the way, the squadron built a history and a reputation worthy of the name, “World Famous Indians.” HS-6 recovered Mercury ProgramMercury program
Mercury Program might refer to:*the first successful American manned spaceflight program, Project Mercury*an American post-rock band, The Mercury Program...
astronauts Wally Schirra
Wally Schirra
Walter Marty Schirra, Jr. was an American test pilot, United States Navy officer, and one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts chosen for the Project Mercury, America's effort to put humans in space. He is the only person to fly in all of America's first three space programs...
in 1962 and Gordon Cooper
Gordon Cooper
Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr. , also known as Gordon Cooper, was an American aeronautical engineer, test pilot and NASA astronaut. Cooper was one of the seven original astronauts in Project Mercury, the first manned space effort by the United States...
in 1963. In 1966, during U.S. strikes into Vietnam, the Indians rescued 16 downed aviators, for which the squadron received the Navy Unit Commendation. A SEVENTH Fleet Commendation followed in 1969 for services provided following the collision at sea between and . In 1971, the Indians recovered the crew of Apollo 14
Apollo 14
Apollo 14 was the eighth manned mission in the American Apollo program, and the third to land on the Moon. It was the last of the "H missions", targeted landings with two-day stays on the Moon with two lunar EVAs, or moonwalks....
returning from the moon. Later that year, the squadron deployed to the east coast to join Carrier Air Wing SEVEN aboard to conduct an evaluation of the emerging CV concept.
In 1974, the squadron began a nine-year association with and Carrier Air Wing NINE. This successful partnership resulted in Battle “E” Awards in 1974 and 1978 and back-to-back Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophies for ASW excellence in 1977 and 1978. The squadron also won the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award in 1977. In 1975, HS-6 briefly revisited its participation in the space program, recovering the Apollo-Soyuz astronauts. The squadron’s final deployment on board USS Constellation was highlighted by 19 open ocean rescues. HS-6 again won back-to-back Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophies in 1985 and 1986. Additionally, in 1986, the squadron received the Admiral Jimmy Thach Award for carrier-based ASW excellence and the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award. In 1988 the Indians received worldwide recognition for rescuing a seriously injured Japanese fisherman. That year, HS-6 would also receive the Sikorsky Maintenance Award, the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation. HS-6 later joined Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN (CVW-11) and began deploying on board until 1989 when the Indians finished with an Around the World cruise. On that cruise, HS-6 won the first ever DESRON 21 “Order of the Pummeled Dolphin” award for excellence in ASW. In 1992, the squadron transitioned to Sikorsky’s SH-60F and HH-60H Seahawk helicopters. Armed with these new, highly capable aircraft, the Indians remained part of CVW 11 and from 1992 to 2003 conducted several successful deployments aboard , , , and , to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
.
In 2001, during the opening days of the Global War on Terrorism, HS-6 conducted a joint detachment with HS-11, staging their HH-60H helicopters at a forward base in Pakistan to provide Combat Search and Rescue for the initial Operation Enduring Freedom air strikes into Afghanistan. Following another FIFTH Fleet deployment in 2003, the Indians deployed in the summer of 2004 aboard for its South American inter-fleet transit. WESTPAC 2005 found HS-6 focused on Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying over 2,500 hours and nearly 1,000 sorties from and Camp Arifjan, Kuwait to patrol the skies of Southern Iraq. That year, the Indians were awarded the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award, COMPACFLT Retention Excellence Award, and Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy. The squadron’s exceptional support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom during WESTPAC ’07, and their performance in the SEVENTH Fleet throughout WESTPAC ’08 earned the Indians the 2007 Battle “E”, and back to back CNO Safety ‘S’ Awards in 2007 and 2008. In March 2010, the squadron completed its final cruise with H-60 F/H helicopters, an eight month deployment to FIFTH Fleet in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
HS-6 began the transition to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX in early 2011, and will deploy with eight MH-60S helicopters as an integral part of the CVW 11 / USS Nimitz (CVN-68) team in late 2012.
External links
See also
- History of the United States NavyHistory of the United States NavyThe history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that was also notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy", the result of a modernization effort that began in the...
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons